Danger, Danger, Mr. Stranger

#DDMS16

#DDMS16

❧
FEUILLE

XANTIEL Vouganville's eyes were bloodshot red, his hair ruffled and messy. Why . . . does he still look hot? Damn it.

"Nice to finally meet you, Deux." Inulit ko nang makitang hindi man lang siya naabala na alam ko na. His eyes remain piercing and dark. I saw his Adam's apple sliding down a little.

"'Yon lang? Wala ka talagang sasabihin sa 'kin?" Inekis ko ang mga braso ko sa ibabaw ng aking dibdib. I'm fucking expecting some kind of reaction from him.

Sa halip na pansinin ako ay naglakad siya't ipinatong ang kaniyang malaking kamay sa ibabaw ng aking ulo. Humarap siya sa doktor at nagpaalam.

"I'm taking my stubborn little kitty back home," he said as he pats my head twice. "Thanks for taking care of her, Doc."

Nilipat niya ang kaniyang kamay mula sa ulo ko at hinawakan ang nanlalamig kong kamay. His touch burned my skin. Why does it feel different than last time?

Last time he held my hand after finding me at my friend's house, it felt warm and comforting. But this time, the mere surface of his rough skin grazing mine is sending scorches to the nerves under my skin.

Nakakapaso, na may halong kaba't pananabik.

I don't fucking know why, but seeing Xantiel in a new light feels like he's a different person from who I knew.

But the butterflies are still there, just wilder and more chaotic.

He wasn't kidding 'cause he pulled me out of the clinic like I was a pet cat on a leash. Nang makalabas sa bahay nina Xalvien ay inalis ko ang kapit niya sa 'kin.

"Yours? Who are you fucking kidding?" anas ko sa kaniya nang may nagngangalit na ngipin. "I'm not yours, Vouganville."

Pumikit siya't parang ninanamnam maigi ang aking sinabi.

Bakit ganito? Kakaiba ang kaniyang kinikilos. Hindi siya ang makulit na Xantiel ngayon. Tahimik siya't . . . nakakatakot. Hindi ko mabasa ang nasa isipan niya.

"Let's talk when we arrive home," his deep voice was calm yet authoritative. "Sa bahay na tayo mag-away. At least when I'm sure you're safe at home with me, then I can let you fight me all you want."

"Make sure you're ready then, Vouganville! 'Cause I'm gonna go all out on you tonight!" nanggigigil kong pagbanta. "I'm not gonna hold back. Just in case you don't know, galit na galit ako sa 'yo ngayon."

That's right. He already fooled me as Mr. Stranger, but that one I could let go.

But as Deux? Nakakagigil tuwing maaalala ko ang mga pagkakataong pinag-uusapan namin siya't kung ano-ano ang mga sinasabi ko pero wala man lang siyang binanggit.

And he was him all along? I fucking felt like a fool.

Fooling me once is enough. Fooling me twice? That I can't let go. And it's making me mad as hell.

Tahimik ang buong biyahe namin. Nakasandal ako nang malalim at nakahalukipkip. Nakasimangot at magkasalubong ang dalawang kilay. Nakanguso't inis na inis.

I got even more infuriated when I heard a snicker from the driver's side. "Ano'ng nakakatawa?" iritang tanong ko.

With eyes fixated on the road, he bit the side of his lip and smiled. "Nothing. Someone's just acting unbelievably cute and it's making me crazy."

Napanganga ako't kumunot ang noo. Cute? Really? "How can you be so insensitive? Sinabi ko na ngang galit ako!"

"You're not the only one mad, little lady. Pang-ilang beses mo na ba 'tong tumatakas sa 'kin? 'Di ba't sinabi kong itatali na kita 'pag lumayas ka pa ulit?" His eyes squinted as he gave a warning, still focused on the road.